KOTOMYAN BIG HILL PRESERVE

OAK WOODLANDS AND WILDLIFE HABITAT,
WATER QUALITY & SCENIC BEAUTY

Placer Land Trust acquired and permanently protected the 160 acres of oak woodlands northwest of Auburn in July 2007, coming one step closer to linking the 1,100-acre Hidden Falls Regional Park to PLT's preserved lands in the area.

PLT purchased the property at fair market value from Florence Fang, publisher of the San Francisco Examiner. The property adjoins PLT's 321-acre Taylor Ranch Preserve and will soon adjoin another (private) property protected by PLT, creating an 800-acre open space preserve for current and future generations.

The property is named Kotomyan Big Hill Preserve. Kotomyan is the name of a historic Nisenan village in the Big Hill area. The property lies near the crest of Big Hill, dividing the Coon Creek and Bear River watersheds.

The Kotomyan Big Hill Preserve is special in its funding and acquisition. Unlike many PLT acquistions, PLT used membership donations for a significant portion of the purchase of this property, making this a truly unique and community-funded project. The California Wildlife Foundation provided the bulk of the funding, and other funding was provided by the Sky View Foundation and the California Oaks Foundation.

This property forever protects valuable oak woodland habitat in the Sierra foothills, and offers panoramic views of the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevadas. On the property are beautiful oak woodlands, granite rock outcroppings, and habitat for numerous wildlife species. The property will be managed for resource protection and public benefit, including protection of water quality.

PLT hopes to work with adjacent landowners and Placer County to extend a multiuse public trail from nearby Hidden Falls Regional Park, along Coon Creek on the Taylor Ranch Preserve, and ultimately seven miles up to the Bear River. The planned trail system may include portions of the Kotomyan Big Hill Preserve.

To return to the list of Placer Land Trust lands preserved, click here.

Placer Land Trust 11521 Blocker Drive, Suite 100 Auburn, CA 95603 (530) 887-9222 info@placerlandtrust.org

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